Al-Assel of Kharga

Al-Assel of Kharga (1170-1230) was a general of the Ayyubid Empire and the adoptive son of Amir Zaki. He was killed in battle in 1230.

Biography
Al-Assel of Kharga was originally a Mameluke general of the Ayyubid Empire, a captain serving as a low-ranked officer. In 1190, starting off at the city of Kerak, he marched out with 5,700 troops and siege engines to Jerusalem, where he was supposed to meet up with Saladin's army. However, a Crusader army of 2,000 troops under Edgar attacked him on the southwestern shore of the Dead Sea at Tamar. The ensuing Battle of Tamar was a great victory for Al-Assel, who gained attention from the House of Ad-Din. This man of the hour was adopted by Amir Zaki, making him a grand-nephew of Saladin through his brother Al-Adil.

In 1202, a combined army of Al-Adil and Al-Assel failed to capture Acre from Loefwine of Jerusalem, but in 1206 a jihad was declared and Al-Afdal took the place when their force again failed to take it. He redeemed himself by capturing Baniyas in 1212, but Al Wathiq Zakariyya stole his thunder with his own victories.

Death
Al-Assel was killed in battle off the coast of Ascalon with Antiochene ships. His one ship was destroyed by four Antiochene ships, and Al-Assel died fighting.